Haha, funny GIFs. I believe you, but i expected the ones who wouldn't do it to come out and speak their mind. You generally don't advertise this mindset. But from my own personal experience, i met a lot of women who didn't hesitate to cheat on their (i would describe) beta boyfriends. Sometimes they don't even mention they have a hubby, lol.
Haha, funny GIFs. I believe you, but i expected the ones who wouldn't do it to come out and speak their mind. You generally don't advertise this mindset. But from my own personal experience, i met a lot of women who didn't hesitate to cheat on their (i would describe) beta boyfriends. Sometimes they don't even mention they have a hubby, lol.
what the hell is this comment
It's the truth. It happens to many. Of both genders.
Though to stay on topic, there's no "infidelity" on Jaheira's part. She was happily married to her husband. Her husband died horribly, she needed to move on.
There's no evidence that she was unfaithful before his death. The books aren't evidence, they're lazy fanfiction given the greenlight to be called "official".
"beta boyfriends?" really? someone read 'the pick-up artist'.......
Alpha and Beta Males/Females are true for humans as well. We are not that different from animals. We are social animals. And that is true for many other things humans do.
And the "alpha/beta male/female" dynamic is observable and proven. It's not something pick-up artists "invented". It's something they observed and recognized.
Alpha and beta are limiting. I use passive, assertive, and aggressive. When I hear 'alpha' used in this way, I think 'aggressive'. When I hear 'beta' used in this way, I think 'passive'. I wouldn't want a partner who's either passive or aggressive. Those are both undesirable.
Hey, people do want to romance Imeon, she is literally your sister...
I missed this one because I didn't read every single post. Kinda off-topic but I see this misconception thrown around way too often.
She is not "literally" your sister. She is your step-sister at best and "sister" in a wider sense. She would be literally your sister if you had the same physical mortal father and mother.
You have different mothers and Bhaal is a deity. Not a physical person. He either used magic to create children or took forms of various races.
Sarevok is a black man. Abazigal is a Half-Dragon. Illasera is an Elf. Yaga Shura is a Fire Giant. Sendai is a drow. Charname could be an elf or an "asian" from Kara-tur like Yoshimo and Tamoko.
There's zero biological relation between Charname and Imoen or the other Bhaalspawn.
They only call themselves brothers and sisters because they have the same divine essence in them and nothing more.
There's zero biological relation between Charname and Imoen or the other Bhaalspawn.
They only call themselves brothers and sisters because they have the same divine essence in them and nothing more.
Eh. I think whether or not divine essence could be treated in the same way as your bloodline--and in-turn, your blood-relations--is open to interpretation.
Unless there's something in the official rules that says otherwise...
Thing is, deities don't have bodies. The way to get on the physical world is through avatars. Said avatars are capable of changing their biology since they're only proxies.
If a demon or dragon changed their shape into humans to mate, their offspring would be half-fiends and half-dragons respectively. The biology of the above remains constant.
In the case of deities, they create avatars and their "biologies" (if they even have one) is different as they wish. An elven avatar of a deity, that mates with another elf, will produce a full-blooded elf. Not a demigod/half-elf for example.
While their biology is different to that of another one, their soul is divine.
Basically, Bhaal turned into fully different people each time. Physically different people with different mothers cannot be "brothers and sisters" in the traditional sense.
This may be true @archaos, but being step-siblings still make most ppl hesitate about being in relationships as well. Even though it's biologically ok, it would prolly feel really weird to many ppl, at least it does for me.
Also, it's kinda amusing to see soo many ppl biting on the troll bait over and over again, heh..
To be fair, Bhaal used to be mortal, as stated in the History of the dead Three, the question remains if wether or not any of his mortal attributes where kept after his ascencion.
Other than that, I like to look at these things like with Greek Mythology, brothers and sisters doing the do there is literally the reason why at least half of those gods are around in the first place.
I really hate to go there but I have never seen a black person with medium bronze skin and a brown/ dark blonde beard. I think you are mixing something up here.
I really hate to go there but I have never seen a black person with medium bronze skin and a brown/ dark blonde beard. I think you are mixing something up here.
How about let's not go there and let people interpret a fictional character's appearance however they see fit?
Let's just be honest: none of the original romances in the Baldur's Gate series are very good. They're all about "Sexual healing," and how these women just needed a big, strapping man to come into their lives and save them from themselves. Viconia, Aerie, and yes, even Jaheira. Heck, even Anomen basically tries to do the same thing to a female Charname, wanting to be her knight in shining armor to rush into battle and save her from her dark ancestry.
Viconia needs a man to show her that it's okay to be a good person! Aerie needs a man to help her develop a sense of self-worth, because without a man in her life she just can't see the good in herself! Jaheira needs a man, because her last man died, and she's just so sad about that!
None of it is a healthy depiction of a relationship. This is why I genuinely have a hard time completing any of the old romances, especially when put next to the Hexxat and Dorn romances (there's a bit of it in Neera's, but in a lesser and more healthy way since it's basically Neera needing to find the right person to settle down with, rather than needing a man to come into her life and give it meaning). There's a power differential in all of the old romances, and 3 out of 4 of them it lies completely with the man.
Well, duh! You're playing the hero, of course they built the romances in such a way so that you can be their metaphorical savior. Makes you feel like you actually achieved something. How boring would an in-game romance be without some actual conflict, character growth and resolution/closure at the end.
Well, duh! You're playing the hero, of course they built the romances in such a way so that you can be their metaphorical savior. Makes you feel like you actually achieved something.
That's such 1980s storytelling :P
I like to think we've transcended the old hero formula now. Of course, it takes a while for everyone to realize that we have... ¬_¬
Yes, it has transcended, in literature and cinema. But in a video game with a linear progression such as Baldur's Gate, it's hard to find a different romance formula that has mass appeal and is successful. I, for one, am happy with what i'm offered in game. Especially the Viconia romance is quite intense, and has a lot of variables in ToB.
"He... Khalid... is dead, and has been so for some time! Beyond a point, there can be no raising, especially when the body has been... has been desecrated!"
As far as why she doesn't even try, its because she is a druid. She says as much.
"Sil...silvanus guide the light...to the source. Take this man to what he justly deserves. By...nature's will, what is given is returned; what was turmoil is now... is now peace."
"We live in a time of miracles, and nature allows for the rebirth of many that have passed beyond the veil, but there is a time when... when it is better to let go."
"Nature is a cycle of birth and... death. Interrupting that cycle isn't...natural! Ah, there is no time for this! I will mourn, but we must rescue ourselves!"
She is able to easily forget her life-long husband and companion because of her incongruous and senseless circle of life (lion king anyone?), druidic belief system. Druids are the environmentalist party of D&D: they don't have to make sense to exist or to be believed.
I personally have always considered that to be the main reason that Charname is not resurrected when he dies. I imagine the conversation following Charname's death to look something like this:
Imoen: "Oops, looks like Charname fell down the stairs and broke his neck and died last night. Let's bring him into town to the local healer..."
Jaheira: "NO! NO! NO! It is nature's will that he died like this!"
Imoen: "In a freak accident?? Jaheira, you're not making any sense. Let's just take him down to the priest and buy a miracle..."
Jaheira: "Silence, child, what do you know? What can you know!? We live in a time of miracles, but we can't take advantage of that! You can't interrupt the cycle (circle) of life! Well. you can, but that doesn't mean you should!"
Minsc: "But Charname has paid to have little Boo and huge Minsc resurrected after having our butts kicked by evil before..."
Jaheria: "Imbecile! Fool! I'm a druid and balance is best! Besides, I loved him and I didn't allow Khalid to be resurrected, now, did I?"
Aerie (with multiple romance mod installed): "But I loved him too, Jaheira..."
Jaheira: "Shut up, just shut up, you stupid, wingless fairy! Its the circle of life, and it moves us all through despair and hope, till we find our place on the path unwinding in the circle, the circle of life! Anyways, now that Charname is out of the way, where's Elton John? I'm in need of a second rebound relationship."
And the "alpha/beta male/female" dynamic is observable and proven.
Alpha and beta behaviour was first observed in wolves in captivity. In the wild, a pack is a family unit, the alphas are not the biggest, baddest wolves dominating their betas, the alphas are the Mama and Papa wolf keeping the kids in line. Wolves fighting in captivity for dominance is neither scientific basis for human interactions, which are not only far more complex but vary widely depending on culture, nor for their own behaviour, which is that of confused animals forced into an unnatural environment where they cannot leave to form their own packs and are desperately trying to form something approaching a family unit.
So in reality the "alpha dynamic" is simple. The alpha is the one who starts a relationship, is faithful to their mate, and sticks around to raise and nurture their family until they go off to start their own packs. Jaheira, being a druid, is entirely aware of this, and of Charname's alpha status, just as she was aware of Khalid's, and is slowly drawn to him despite her unwillingness to get into another relationship.
It falls apart a little given that progress is tied to play time, rather than game time (I tend to leave my game open and paused while I write, so I often come back to a flurry of interested maidens despite it being the day out of Irenicus' dungeon), but given that Jaheira's romance track is the longest, it's clearly intended for the whole thing to take weeks, perhaps months of travel together in regular play before the friendship becomes something more, and even then Jaheira's behaviour is hesitant, afraid of being hurt, trying to find reasons to avoid the relationship, and still continuing to talk about Khalid and holding taking revenge for him as an important reason to stopping Irenicus.
As to Jaheira being essentially CHARNAME's guardian and the power dynamic being weird... Well, it's not exactly like any of the canon relationships weren't hugely dysfunctional already, especially if it's Aerie and a CHARNAME elf. She's going to get Chrisephalas Hansenellor'd, he's only twenty!
Alpha and Beta Males/Females are true for humans as well. We are not that different from animals. We are social animals. And that is true for many other things humans do.
And the "alpha/beta male/female" dynamic is observable and proven. It's not something pick-up artists "invented". It's something they observed and recognized.
I'm sorry for going a bit off-topic again, but I believe that it should be stated for the record that the above quote is absolutely mistaken. Read Pantalion's post above for one example why.
Yes, humans are social animals. And yes, there are many social behaviors that are linked to biology and even evolution. But the "alpha male" thing is not one of them. It's a gross misinterpretation of scientific studies packaged to sell books, justify wishful thinking and push shady agendas. It is to anthropology what The Secret is to quantum physics.
Taking it back on-topic: I see people reading a whole lot into a relationship that is represented by hardly a dozen lines of dialogue. So Khalid's not an imposing guy with his stuttering high-pitched voice and his insecure attitude going into the fray. That doesn't make him a pushover. In fact, he's constantly talking back at Jaheira.
Whether they have a healthy or disfuncional relationship is really a matter of what you are reading (maybe even projecting) into it since as I just pointed out, there's just not enough material to analyze.
Apart from some of the troll comments here, I quite enjoy some of the off-topic (but still relevant) discussions here.
Regarding Khalid, does anyone truly like him as a character? When I look at his limited lines and exchanges with Jaheira (and even his pathetic holler when Jaheira dies in the midst of battle), I find little to like in his character. I always thought the reason why Jaheira chose to be with him is because she is the domineering one and Khalid doesn't mind (or likes) being dominated: that's why the marriage somehow works.
I like Khalid because he is hilarious. I love to see him run away and I love the stuttering and cowardice. It just adds to the immersion for me, plus he's like comic relief. Although there are funnier characters, like Xzar, Minsc, Edwin, and Tiax.
As far as usefulness, he's versatile as a fighter. He's not as much of a tank as Minsc, nor as good of an archer as Coran of Kivan. But he's not terrible at either. You don't have to beef him up to do either. He's a middle man, or a secondary fighter or archer. Just try not to scare him too much, because he has a delicate heart. "Better part of valor! Better part of valor!" I just love hearing that, it cracks me up every time. (Because I save often, I just reload and try again after my party dies because Khalid ran away.) I actually find him more useful than Jaheira, although, as has been pointed out to me on these forums, that is probably due to my playing style.
As far as him and Jaheira, I think that their relationship as portrayed in the BG1NPC Mod is very well written. I don't know if you've checked it out, I haven't read this whole thread. Vanilla game though, I totally agree that Khalid is the submissive one and Jaheira is the domineering one. I see it as a funny thing that the writers threw in as a joke, like Minsc's hamster, or the relationship between Skie and Eldoth. It's there, and it's funny. I don't think that they ever dreamed that bg1 would be so successful as it is now. They may not have even expected to make a bg2. And there is no way that they could have thought it would still be this successful around 20 years after they wrote the Jaheira/Khalid duo in bg1.
The relationship between Khalid and Jaheira in bg1 probably wasn't anything more than a joke between two programmers. "Hey, let's make a bossy Druid/fighter half-elf married to a cowardly half-elf stuttering fighter, har har har!!"
When bg2 rolled around, what should the writers do about romance? Introduce a new character? Ok, Aerie! Hey, everybody likes drow, right? Viconia! What about that bossy Druid lady? Jaheira! Ooooh, problem, she's married. Hmmm, in a world where we control everything, what can we about Khalid....let's think. Oh, I got it! Let's kill him off! Good idea! Oh wait, what if Charname is a woman?? Pshaw, like that will ever happen! But seriously, just make up some one night stand dude for all the weirdos out there that like to pretend to be women. Now, on to Irenicus!
Viconia needs a man to show her that it's okay to be a good person! Aerie needs a man to help her develop a sense of self-worth, because without a man in her life she just can't see the good in herself! Jaheira needs a man, because her last man died, and she's just so sad about that!
None of it is a healthy depiction of a relationship. This is why I genuinely have a hard time completing any of the old romances, especially when put next to the Hexxat and Dorn romances (there's a bit of it in Neera's, but in a lesser and more healthy way since it's basically Neera needing to find the right person to settle down with, rather than needing a man to come into her life and give it meaning). There's a power differential in all of the old romances, and 3 out of 4 of them it lies completely with the man.
Well, if you consider that SoA romances were written by a writer or someone who has a degree of experience with writing, then such conflicts are supposed to happen as long they contribute to the story and to your character's own growth. So Aerie needs a guy who makes her feel accepted , loved and desirable - but what if your character needs it as well? Or it could be completely opposite, he was a Thung until he met Aerie.
It really depends on how you view the situation from your charname's angle.
Apart from some of the troll comments here, I quite enjoy some of the off-topic (but still relevant) discussions here.
Regarding Khalid, does anyone truly like him as a character? When I look at his limited lines and exchanges with Jaheira (and even his pathetic holler when Jaheira dies in the midst of battle), I find little to like in his character. I always thought the reason why Jaheira chose to be with him is because she is the domineering one and Khalid doesn't mind (or likes) being dominated: that's why the marriage somehow works.
Who here likes Khalid and why?
Well, you may not be into that type of guy but Khalid represent a valuable stereotype: the shy guy with principles. He afraid of doing it wrong and ain't really the extroverted type, but he'll respect you and stand up to his ideals. In my opinion he'd be quite date-able!
I like Khalid, As a matter of fact unmodded I like him better than Jaheria. He is more supportive of good decision making . I run the BG1NPC mod, and the interactions give you a better idea of personalities. I really enjoy the game much better with than with out.
If you really want to stretch it try the BG1 Romantic Encounters Mod. Be forewarned though it is not for kiddos, it is an experience all of its own and you will never look at the sword cost the same way.
If you really want to stretch it try the BG1 Romantic Encounters Mod. Be forewarned though it is not for kiddos, it is an experience all of its own and you will never look at the sword cost the same way.
If you really want to stretch it try the BG1 Romantic Encounters Mod. Be forewarned though it is not for kiddos, it is an experience all of its own and you will never look at the sword cost the same way.
I am imagining this mod becoming a movie...and on the trailer have that classic guy who always does the trailers for Hollywood action movies, saying with a deep voice: "And you will never look at the Sword Coast...the same way..."
To be fair, Bhaal used to be mortal, as stated in the History of the dead Three, the question remains if wether or not any of his mortal attributes where kept after his ascencion.
Other than that, I like to look at these things like with Greek Mythology, brothers and sisters doing the do there is literally the reason why at least half of those gods are around in the first place.
I really hate to go there but I have never seen a black person with medium bronze skin and a brown/ dark blonde beard. I think you are mixing something up here.
To be fair, Bhaal used to be mortal, as stated in the History of the dead Three, the question remains if wether or not any of his mortal attributes where kept after his ascencion.
Other than that, I like to look at these things like with Greek Mythology, brothers and sisters doing the do there is literally the reason why at least half of those gods are around in the first place.
I really hate to go there but I have never seen a black person with medium bronze skin and a brown/ dark blonde beard. I think you are mixing something up here.
I've never seen a black man in DnD canon period, only time I've ever see a black man, they were pc, mostly mine.
i can see how it could happen when two people are together 24/7 and going through alot of intense live or die battles and you are living every day like it could be your last.
i can also see where it can be looked upon as similar to romancing an older relative (even though you're not related).
for me personally, i just didn't feel right about the option of romancing jaheira. just felt odd to me. probably mostly because her constant criticism made her unattractive to me and romancing my good friend khalid's wife (even tho he's passed on), still just didn't seem right.
Comments
Though to stay on topic, there's no "infidelity" on Jaheira's part.
She was happily married to her husband. Her husband died horribly, she needed to move on.
There's no evidence that she was unfaithful before his death.
The books aren't evidence, they're lazy fanfiction given the greenlight to be called "official".
someone read 'the pick-up artist'.......
We are not that different from animals. We are social animals.
And that is true for many other things humans do.
And the "alpha/beta male/female" dynamic is observable and proven.
It's not something pick-up artists "invented". It's something they observed and recognized.
Kinda off-topic but I see this misconception thrown around way too often.
She is not "literally" your sister. She is your step-sister at best and "sister" in a wider sense.
She would be literally your sister if you had the same physical mortal father and mother.
You have different mothers and Bhaal is a deity. Not a physical person.
He either used magic to create children or took forms of various races.
Sarevok is a black man. Abazigal is a Half-Dragon. Illasera is an Elf. Yaga Shura is a Fire Giant. Sendai is a drow.
Charname could be an elf or an "asian" from Kara-tur like Yoshimo and Tamoko.
There's zero biological relation between Charname and Imoen or the other Bhaalspawn.
They only call themselves brothers and sisters because they have the same divine essence in them and nothing more.
Unless there's something in the official rules that says otherwise...
Thing is, deities don't have bodies. The way to get on the physical world is through avatars.
Said avatars are capable of changing their biology since they're only proxies.
If a demon or dragon changed their shape into humans to mate, their offspring would be half-fiends and half-dragons respectively.
The biology of the above remains constant.
In the case of deities, they create avatars and their "biologies" (if they even have one) is different as they wish.
An elven avatar of a deity, that mates with another elf, will produce a full-blooded elf.
Not a demigod/half-elf for example.
While their biology is different to that of another one, their soul is divine.
Basically, Bhaal turned into fully different people each time. Physically different people with different mothers cannot be "brothers and sisters" in the traditional sense.
Also, it's kinda amusing to see soo many ppl biting on the troll bait over and over again, heh..
Other than that, I like to look at these things like with Greek Mythology, brothers and sisters doing the do there is literally the reason why at least half of those gods are around in the first place. I really hate to go there but I have never seen a black person with medium bronze skin and a brown/ dark blonde beard. I think you are mixing something up here.
This is just a friendly reminder for everyone to read the site rules.
Viconia needs a man to show her that it's okay to be a good person! Aerie needs a man to help her develop a sense of self-worth, because without a man in her life she just can't see the good in herself! Jaheira needs a man, because her last man died, and she's just so sad about that!
None of it is a healthy depiction of a relationship. This is why I genuinely have a hard time completing any of the old romances, especially when put next to the Hexxat and Dorn romances (there's a bit of it in Neera's, but in a lesser and more healthy way since it's basically Neera needing to find the right person to settle down with, rather than needing a man to come into her life and give it meaning). There's a power differential in all of the old romances, and 3 out of 4 of them it lies completely with the man.
I like to think we've transcended the old hero formula now. Of course, it takes a while for everyone to realize that we have... ¬_¬
She explains why they can't resurrect Khalid.
"He... Khalid... is dead, and has been so for some time! Beyond a point, there can be no raising, especially when the body has been... has been desecrated!"
As far as why she doesn't even try, its because she is a druid. She says as much.
"Sil...silvanus guide the light...to the source. Take this man to what he justly deserves. By...nature's will, what is given is returned; what was turmoil is now... is now peace."
"We live in a time of miracles, and nature allows for the rebirth of many that have passed beyond the veil, but there is a time when... when it is better to let go."
"Nature is a cycle of birth and... death. Interrupting that cycle isn't...natural! Ah, there is no time for this! I will mourn, but we must rescue ourselves!"
She is able to easily forget her life-long husband and companion because of her incongruous and senseless circle of life (lion king anyone?), druidic belief system. Druids are the environmentalist party of D&D: they don't have to make sense to exist or to be believed.
I personally have always considered that to be the main reason that Charname is not resurrected when he dies. I imagine the conversation following Charname's death to look something like this:
Imoen: "Oops, looks like Charname fell down the stairs and broke his neck and died last night. Let's bring him into town to the local healer..."
Jaheira: "NO! NO! NO! It is nature's will that he died like this!"
Imoen: "In a freak accident?? Jaheira, you're not making any sense. Let's just take him down to the priest and buy a miracle..."
Jaheira: "Silence, child, what do you know? What can you know!? We live in a time of miracles, but we can't take advantage of that! You can't interrupt the cycle (circle) of life! Well. you can, but that doesn't mean you should!"
Minsc: "But Charname has paid to have little Boo and huge Minsc resurrected after having our butts kicked by evil before..."
Jaheria: "Imbecile! Fool! I'm a druid and balance is best! Besides, I loved him and I didn't allow Khalid to be resurrected, now, did I?"
Aerie (with multiple romance mod installed): "But I loved him too, Jaheira..."
Jaheira: "Shut up, just shut up, you stupid, wingless fairy! Its the circle of life, and it moves us all through despair and hope, till we find our place on the path unwinding in the circle, the circle of life! Anyways, now that Charname is out of the way, where's Elton John? I'm in need of a second rebound relationship."
So in reality the "alpha dynamic" is simple. The alpha is the one who starts a relationship, is faithful to their mate, and sticks around to raise and nurture their family until they go off to start their own packs. Jaheira, being a druid, is entirely aware of this, and of Charname's alpha status, just as she was aware of Khalid's, and is slowly drawn to him despite her unwillingness to get into another relationship.
It falls apart a little given that progress is tied to play time, rather than game time (I tend to leave my game open and paused while I write, so I often come back to a flurry of interested maidens despite it being the day out of Irenicus' dungeon), but given that Jaheira's romance track is the longest, it's clearly intended for the whole thing to take weeks, perhaps months of travel together in regular play before the friendship becomes something more, and even then Jaheira's behaviour is hesitant, afraid of being hurt, trying to find reasons to avoid the relationship, and still continuing to talk about Khalid and holding taking revenge for him as an important reason to stopping Irenicus.
As to Jaheira being essentially CHARNAME's guardian and the power dynamic being weird... Well, it's not exactly like any of the canon relationships weren't hugely dysfunctional already, especially if it's Aerie and a CHARNAME elf. She's going to get Chrisephalas Hansenellor'd, he's only twenty!
Yes, humans are social animals. And yes, there are many social behaviors that are linked to biology and even evolution. But the "alpha male" thing is not one of them. It's a gross misinterpretation of scientific studies packaged to sell books, justify wishful thinking and push shady agendas. It is to anthropology what The Secret is to quantum physics.
Taking it back on-topic: I see people reading a whole lot into a relationship that is represented by hardly a dozen lines of dialogue. So Khalid's not an imposing guy with his stuttering high-pitched voice and his insecure attitude going into the fray. That doesn't make him a pushover. In fact, he's constantly talking back at Jaheira.
Whether they have a healthy or disfuncional relationship is really a matter of what you are reading (maybe even projecting) into it since as I just pointed out, there's just not enough material to analyze.
Regarding Khalid, does anyone truly like him as a character? When I look at his limited lines and exchanges with Jaheira (and even his pathetic holler when Jaheira dies in the midst of battle), I find little to like in his character. I always thought the reason why Jaheira chose to be with him is because she is the domineering one and Khalid doesn't mind (or likes) being dominated: that's why the marriage somehow works.
Who here likes Khalid and why?
As far as usefulness, he's versatile as a fighter. He's not as much of a tank as Minsc, nor as good of an archer as Coran of Kivan. But he's not terrible at either. You don't have to beef him up to do either. He's a middle man, or a secondary fighter or archer. Just try not to scare him too much, because he has a delicate heart. "Better part of valor! Better part of valor!" I just love hearing that, it cracks me up every time. (Because I save often, I just reload and try again after my party dies because Khalid ran away.) I actually find him more useful than Jaheira, although, as has been pointed out to me on these forums, that is probably due to my playing style.
As far as him and Jaheira, I think that their relationship as portrayed in the BG1NPC Mod is very well written. I don't know if you've checked it out, I haven't read this whole thread. Vanilla game though, I totally agree that Khalid is the submissive one and Jaheira is the domineering one. I see it as a funny thing that the writers threw in as a joke, like Minsc's hamster, or the relationship between Skie and Eldoth. It's there, and it's funny. I don't think that they ever dreamed that bg1 would be so successful as it is now. They may not have even expected to make a bg2. And there is no way that they could have thought it would still be this successful around 20 years after they wrote the Jaheira/Khalid duo in bg1.
The relationship between Khalid and Jaheira in bg1 probably wasn't anything more than a joke between two programmers. "Hey, let's make a bossy Druid/fighter half-elf married to a cowardly half-elf stuttering fighter, har har
har!!"
When bg2 rolled around, what should the writers do about romance? Introduce a new character? Ok, Aerie! Hey, everybody likes drow, right? Viconia! What about that bossy Druid lady? Jaheira! Ooooh, problem, she's married. Hmmm, in a world where we control everything, what can we about Khalid....let's think. Oh, I got it! Let's kill him off! Good idea! Oh wait, what if Charname is a woman?? Pshaw, like that will ever happen! But seriously, just make up some one night stand dude for all the weirdos out there that like to pretend to be women. Now, on to Irenicus!
It really depends on how you view the situation from your charname's angle. Well, you may not be into that type of guy but Khalid represent a valuable stereotype: the shy guy with principles. He afraid of doing it wrong and ain't really the extroverted type, but he'll respect you and stand up to his ideals. In my opinion he'd be quite date-able!
I run the BG1NPC mod, and the interactions give you a better idea of personalities. I really enjoy the game much better with than with out.
If you really want to stretch it try the BG1 Romantic Encounters Mod. Be forewarned though it is not for kiddos, it is an experience all of its own and you will never look at the sword cost the same way.
@Buttercheese
i can see how it could happen when two people are together 24/7 and going through alot of intense live or die battles and you are living every day like it could be your last.
i can also see where it can be looked upon as similar to romancing an older relative (even though you're not related).
for me personally, i just didn't feel right about the option of romancing jaheira. just felt odd to me. probably mostly because her constant criticism made her unattractive to me and romancing my good friend khalid's wife (even tho he's passed on), still just didn't seem right.